Philadelphia Union today announced the signing of defender/midfielder Sheanon Williams, thus completing the 24-man roster permitted by Major League Soccer regulations.

The Union could expand their roster up to 26 men with the signing of two home grown players. The 20-year-old joins the Union from the Harrisburg City Islanders, Philadelphia’s USL-2 affiliate.

Per Major League Soccer and team policies, the details of the signing will not be disclosed.

A product of the U-17 Residency Program, Williams represented the United States in two youth World Cups, the U-17 World Cup in Korea (2007), where he played for former head coach and current Philadelphia Union Coach John Hackworth, and the U-20 World Cup in Egypt (2009).

Raised in Boston, Mass., Williams is the second player to join the Union from the Harrisburg City Islanders.  J.T. Noone was signed by the expansion side on July 30, thanks to a partnership signed by these two organizations last February.

Philadelphia Union Communications

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On a day when most in the nation’s capital are celebrating a decrease in American firepower in Iraq, those of a soccer-minded persuasion are simply left wondering, “Where will the firepower come from?”

D.C. United have played 26 competitive matches this year, and managed a meager 25 goals from them.

The figure becomes even worse reading when U.S. Open Cup matches are taken out of consideration: 15 goals in 21 matches reads United’s utterly laughable league scoresheet so far this campaign.

The record for ineptitude in the final third is 25 goals in Toronto’s inaugural 2007 season, and while I’m all for one-upping those Canadians whenever possible, this is one record no one in D.C. wants to claim.

In order to avoid that ignominy, United will need to tally 11 goals in its remaining 8 league games.

To offer some perspective on just how it long it might take United to score 11 goals, Danny Allsopp is currently the club’s top scorer, registering a lofty four goals—for the entire season.

The fact that new coach Ben Olsen has apparently dumped any hope of saving face in the league for a Portsmouth-esque assault on the Cup certainly doesn’t bode well for avoiding the infamous record either.

So who is to blame for this Biblical goal drought?

Chris Pontius and Santino Quaranta, stalwarts of United’s attacking midfield, have been largely anonymous this season.

Pontius showed flashes of brilliance in Seattle and a handful of friendlies, but nothing of note in the league.

Some expected Adam Cristman to pick up the goal slack following an unfortunate metatarsal injury last season, but that has not come to fruition either (putting faith in a Kansas City import was always a dubious prospect anyway).

Seventeen-year old Academy product Andy Najar has been one of the lone bright spots this season, netting three goals in 19 appearances and showing real signs of promise for the future.

What can be done to end this dearth of goals you ask?

The obvious answer is a Capitol Hill favorite: throw some money at the problem.

One need only look toward New York (with envious eyes) to see the fruits of splashing a little cash on a goal-poacher in this league of heavy parity.

The D.C. backroom staff must have considered this option, but decided rather than actually spending money on a quality player who can score goals (heck maybe even win some games), they should instead squander their Designated Player spot on a midfielder who hasn’t had a nose for goal since almost a decade ago in the Serbo-Montenegrin Football League, and no reputation whatsoever outside of Central Europe.

In his defense, Branko Boskovic can hardly be expected to have the impact of an Henry, Castillo, Marquez, or even Guzman, because he is quite simply not an out-and-out striker. Boskovic is merely an innocent pawn in a very, very poorly played game.

The midfielder impressed mightily as recently as 2008 in the heart of a Rapid Vienna side that won the Austrian Bundesliga, and indeed had he been placed at the interior of a quality MLS side he may have found real success as a ball winner and distributor.

But if ifs and buts were candy and nuts, D.C. would have more than four wins.

D.C. took a swing with finally signing another D.P. (only the third in club history).

It was far from a threatening hack, but fans in Philadelphia, Columbus, and New England must certainly be feeling the breeze from the almighty miss.

The D.P. in MLS is a tricky entity, he must be measured not only by impact on the team in terms of wins and losses but also (perhaps more importantly in a perverse sense) in terms of fannies in the seats.

Boskovic has delivered on neither.

How the United staff could so quickly set aside the memory of a successful goal-scoring crowd favorite D.P. like Emilio and opt for an over-the-hill central mid from football's Hinterlands is beyond my obviously limited soccer understanding, yet perhaps given time Olsen will be able to remedy the mistake.

D.C. supporters are passionate to a fault, yet some of the most understanding and intelligent fans of the game in general I’ve ever had the pleasure of coming across.

They understand that sports are cyclical, and United is not subjected to the cruel fate of a relegation system that most other leagues in the world use.

It is certainly not a far stretch to imagine how the past few seasons of soccer in D.C. could have United ending up as America’s first Leeds United or Nottingham Forest: a grand old club languishing several rungs down the ladder and with no escape plan to speak of.

This season may be tanked, but we can all at least look forward with hope to the Olsen era, and perhaps even a D.P. signing that can pay dividends in goals scored.

Maybe not, probably not, but at this point hope (and the Cup) is all that’s left for this proud franchise.

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The Sounders are pitted against Chivas USA in a sold-out U.S. Open Cup semifinal at Starfire Sports Stadium with first kick at 7:30 p.m.

Last year Seattle Sounders FC garnered the U.S. Open Cup.  When the Rave Green takes the pitch Wednesday night in Tukwila, Washington it will be with an eye toward repeating last year’s feat.

The scene then shifts 2,500 miles to the east and Foxborough, Massachusetts on Saturday when Seattle faces the New England Revolution at 4:30 p.m. PT.

Over the past two months since beginning Open Cup play, Sounders FC (9-8-5, 32 points in league; 11-10-7 overall) has been on domestic tear, losing only once in 10 games.

If it can advance past Chivas USA (6-11-4, 22 points), Seattle will host the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Final on October 5 on the Xbox Pitch at Qwest Field. The Columbus Crew and D.C. United meet in Wednesday's other semifinal.

The Rave Green are cup holders but have yet to score a goal in four MLS meetings with Chivas USA, which defeated D.C. United 1-0 at home on Sunday to snap a three game losing string. Seattle will face Chivas USA again in its final regular season home game  October 15.

After coming from behind to beat the Chicago Fire 2-1 at home last week, the Sounders ride a franchise best seven-game unbeaten (5-0-2) streak into New England. The 3-0 win over the Revolution June 5 matched the biggest victory margin for the club. The Revs (6-12-3, 21 points) have lost three in a row but are 5-4-2 at home. They host Monarcas Morelia in the SuperLiga final on Wednesday.

Seattle's surge to begin the second half of the season has propelled it into the second of four wild card slots. Eight teams qualify for the MLS Cup Playoffs.  The survivors include the first two teams in each division and those with the next four best point totals.

The Sounders announced Monday that the Gambia National Team has called in midfielder Sanna Nyassi for Saturday's African Cup of Nations qualifier with Namibia in Banjul, Gambia.

Nyassi will miss the matches against Chivas USA and the New England Revolution.  He will return to Seattle September 6.

It was also announced Monday that Sounders forward Fredy Montero was voted Major League Soccer Player of the Week by the North American Soccer Reporters (NASR) for Week 22 of the 2010 MLS season. Montero scored the first goal against the Chicago Fire to tie the game at 1-1 in the 36th minute. His second strike came in second half stoppage time to give the Sounders a 2-1 victory.

This marks Montero’s second Player of the Week award. Montero also captured the Player of the Month award for July and has led Sounders FC to an unbeaten 5-0-2 record in league play. He has five goals and three assists in that stretch.

Following Tuesday’s workout in Tukwila Coach Sigi Schmid talked about the upcoming match with Chivas USA as well as other subjects.

“It’s a different Chivas under Preki versus a Chivas under Martin Vasquez,” Schmid said. “We have played against Martin Vasquez’s team once and that’s the team we are preparing for. I thought we possessed the ball alright in the game down in L.A.

“We didn’t get a goal and neither did they. So it was just one of those things. Against Preki’s team, just like Preki’s teams in Toronto, they end up getting a little piece of you, they foul you, they break up the rhythm of the game to make it difficult to play. We have got to do better against that type of team. Chivas under Martin doesn’t play like that.”

On the subject of selecting a lineup for Wednesday‘s match, Schmid related, “If we think a guy is ready, we are going to play him. We are looking at situations, ‘Oh, OK. This guy has done well at training. It’s pretty close between these two guys. So maybe this guy has got a knock or is a little bit fatigued so we are going to make a change there.’ But in general, we are going to try and play the guys who are ready and able and healthy and well and it’s going to be our best team that we put out there.”

Schmid went on from there to discuss what Chivas USA is likely to do regarding lineup selections as well as motivation:

“Yeah, I think they will do the same thing. . . .  This for them is big. It’s an opportunity for them to get a trophy … So this is a game that I think is very important. I think you can expect them pretty much bringing their starting lineup.

“I heard that [Osael] Romero, who got called into El Salvador, is not going in until after our game. So obviously they want to have all hands on deck. . . . Certainly a team like them who, in their history, hasn’t won a trophy at this stage to be in the semifinal they are going to be a hungry team. It’s going to come from the front office on down, ‘This is a chance. We are in the semifinal. We are one game away from getting to the final. We are two games away from having the trophy.’ So they are going to be a hungry team.”

Coach Schmid also commented on Nyassi’s opportunity with the Gambian National Team:

“It’s great for him. It’s a good reward. And certainly how he has played late he deserves it. He’s got an opportunity to play in qualifying games for the Africa Nations Cup and those are important games for their countries.

“We are happy for him. We are missing him. We could use him here. He always plays well on this particular field, playing here at Starfire. For him, I think it’s a great reward and for him to put himself back into the picture there is good.”

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In the continuous quest to track down their lost wheels, Bruce Arena's Los Angeles Galaxy wander into Toyota Park in Bridgeview, Illinois, like a pack of Angelenos on a road to nowhere. On September 4, they face the Chicago Fire in their penultimate road trip.

It's a Major League Soccer contest that will have significant implications in the dynamics of the MLS Western Conference Standings, as well as the wide-open supporters Shield race.

“Obviously the results the last two weeks are not good,” Arena said after the match against Kansas City. “You can term it however you wish. I won’t dispute history.

“It’s disturbing. It was not a good performance on our part. I think those things never surprise you in MLS. I think we’re getting the best shot of every team we play, and that requires that we be, game in and game out, ready to compete. And if we’re not, we’re going to have problems.”

“It’s a wake-up call for us,” said defender Todd Dunivant when reflecting on Saturday's game. “We have to pick it back up. It’s been a good couple of months now where it’s really been a slump. The fact that we are still in first place is a testament of how good our start was.

"We have to get it right at the right time and the only silver lining is that the slump is happening now and not at the end of the year.”

Even Landon Donovan admitted that the G's were still looking for their wheels.

“We’re struggling,” Donovan said. “We’ve gotten away from what we’re good at. Part of it has to do with being at the top of the table and relaxing a little bit. We put a lot into the first half of the season to get where we we’re at.”

“I wish we didn’t lose in that fashion,” Edson Buddle said on the defeat, “but we just have to forget about it.”

Out for the match against the Chicago Fire due to suspension is midfielder Chris Birchall.

“Being outcompeted, where you’re not winning your individual battles, (is a serious problem)” Birchall said. “You can’t always say the effort is there when you’re getting outcompeted. I think it was more alarming than the other (losses), and we just have to put it behind us.

“We need a performance where we play hard, grind out a one-nil win and put points on the table. We need something.”

Chicago comes into this week's match at Toyota Park also off a defeat, a 2-1 loss to the Seattle Sounders. Carlos De Los Cobos's club will look to build on their recent success against the Galaxy through Marco Pappa, who leads the club with seven goals.

Other key scorers for the Fire include Baggio Husidic and Brian McBride with four goals, and Calen Carr and Collins John, both with two goals each.

Patrick Nyarko leads the club in assists with seven and is the team's main playmaker. Husidic and Pappa have also proved valuable in setting up the finish with four assists. The addition of Freddie Ljungberg has injected new life to this club, with three assists to show for his young career with the Fire.

Watch for the trio of C.J. Brown, Krzysztof Krol and Wilman Conde to neutralize the slumping Galaxy forwards. Goalkeeper Sean Johnson has done his part relieving season starter Andrew Drykstra, with a 1.80 goals against average and a 67.9 percent save percentage.

As for the Galaxy, Edson Buddle's 13 goals and Landon Donovan's 11 assists are still the best in the league, but both need to amp up their production on Saturday.

Goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts's GAA and save percentage dropped to 0.76 and 77.8 percent, respectively.

Juninho was unavailable for last week's match against the Kansas City Wizards due to personal issues but should be back in time to make the trip to Bridgeview.

No explanation is needed regarding the Galaxy's inept form the past two months: a decrepit back line susceptible to lose the intensity to neutralizing attacks from its opposition, and an attack delivering looks as bland as traditional English cuisine.

The time is now for this team to spice things up. And it has to start now.

Take a back seat, boys. This prognosticator is throwing caution to the wind in the Windy City and is calling for...a draw.

Kickoff is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. PT and will be televised by Telefutura and Fox Sports Prime Ticket.

In search of Miss LA Galaxy


The Miss Universe Pageant may have ended a week or so ago in Las Vegas, but another pageant is on the books. It's the 2011 Miss LA Galaxy contest, presented by COVERGIRL.

This pageant dates back to 2002. During the next two months, ten of Southern California's best women who span professions ranging from coaching soccer to neuroscience to the pursuit of a graduate degree will be vying for the honor of Miss LA Galaxy. One of those contestants is Valencia, California's Megan Lacina.

"Today was wonderful, it's been a great bonding experience between all the girls," Lacina said after the contestants took the time to soak in the sights and sounds of Newport Beach. “We are capable of doing so much. I think it would be a wonderful opportunity to be part of something that is helping so many people in the community.

"If I were to win it would be a huge honor, but I think any of these girls would deserve to win equally and I would be just as happy for any of them.”

The ideal candidate is someone who takes pride in making a difference in their community, enjoys doing volunteer work, demonstrates extraordinary academic and personal achievement and, of course, supports the LA Galaxy and its commitment to making the sport of soccer grow in this country.

The final day of this contest is scheduled for October 24, on the final home game of the season against FC Dallas.

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As the MLS playoffs loom increasingly closer it was imperative to establish momentum during this crucial stage.

Saturday night two teams hovering at the five hundred mark sought to move a leg up toward playoff competition as the Chicago Fire with recent acquisition Freddie Ljungberg visited Seattle to face the Sounders before an Xbox pitch Qwest Field throng of 36,386.

It was only befitting that Colombia Comet Fredy Montero, the team leader in goals and assists, surge forward to take control when the game was on the line and make the difference.  Montero scored his second of two goals on the night during stoppage time to break a 1-1 regulation time deadlock and commandeer a nail-biting 2-1 triumph that set off an instant celebration on the Sounders bench as well as throughout the stadium.

Earlier in the season Montero set a high bench mark for himself for 2010 after an impressive All-Star beginning last year.  “Since the MLS season is longer than that in Colombia where I set my goal of 15 goals,” he explained, “I set a goal of 20 goals here.”

Montero was asked if he had a goal for number of assists this season.  “Yes, I have a goal of 10 assists,” he replied.

The irony is the current equal distribution of Montero’s work product.  With his two scores Saturday night Montero’s production is identical with 10 goals and the same number of assists.  

When asked to comment on this result of identical goals and assists from Seattle’s star striker, Coach Sigi Schmid had an answer:

 "He's a player that drops off the front line a little bit, that's where he feels most comfortable. So he's a player who also is a good passer of the ball. An old coach told me a long time ago that dribblers don't make it in this game and what he meant to say by that is when you look at the great dribblers in the game whether it's a George Best or a (Diego) Maradona or a (Lionel) Messi, they are also very good passers of the ball. I think Fredy Montero has that ability and so if you are a good passer of the ball and then you can dribble as well and have something extra that is spicing on the cake kind of thing, or the icing, something like that. I get all those things confused - the icing, something like that."

Schmid’s conclusion drew laughter from the media corps.  The humor added extra spice but the point was clear.  Montero is the kind of polished player who passing skills rival those of his kicking prowess.  As a result he establishes high numbers in both scoring and assists.

The evening got off to a frustrating beginning for the home squad.  In the 28th minute a John Thorrington penalty kick put the Windy City club on top.  With Ljungberg, recently traded from Seattle to Chicago and making his first appearance to his former home city since then, available the question was whether he should take the penalty kick.  He had been the team designate for corner kicks for the entire evening.

Ljungberg commented after the match that his teammates implored, “Freddie, you should take the kick” but felt that after all the hype that had been generated over the match that “other players” should constitute the factor and hence his refusal and Thorrington instead delivering the score.

The penalty resulted from defender Jeff Parke being whistled for a handball in the box when Patrick Nyarko's pass struck his arm.

Montero delivered an equalizer in the 36th minute.  Tyson Wahl, making his first appearance since April 25, took a pass from Patrick Ianni and served a long ball to the box.  The timing was superb as the speedy Montero chased down the ball and blasted a shot inside the near post.

The assist marked Wahl’s first MLS point since entering the league in 2006.  For Ianni his effort marked his initial assist of the season.

The climactic final Montero goal came in the second minute of second-half stoppage time.  James Riley took a quick throw-in to Nathan Sturgis.  He then delivered a left-footed cross to Montero at the far post.

The Colombian delivered a picture perfect header.  Montero headed the ball down and past Fire goal keeper Sean Johnson for his 10th goal. This marked Sturgis' first assist this season and Riley's third.

Seattle finished with a 12-9 edge in shots.  The teams stood even at 4-4 on goal while the Sounders held a 6-4 on corner kick advantage.  

"It is pretty exciting,” Coach Schmid said regarding the late game-winning dynamics.   “You do all the hard work and when you win one like that and you score late like you do, it's such an outstanding feeling. That's something that sometimes becomes defining moments for teams in a season. Hopefully this will help us in becoming a defining moment for us."

Many had predicted that this crucial test for both teams would generate high scoring as well as a lot of tough physical play.  While a high scoring element never resulted, the play was at a high physical level.  The match had an intensity that kept both teams on their physical edge.  No red cards resulted but five yellows were handed out.

Steve Kinney and Freddie Ljungberg each secured yellow cards for the visitors for a reckless tackle and reckless foul respectively.  Montero and Nate Jaqua were cited for reckless fouls while Blaise Nkufo secured a yellow card for unsporting behavior.

"They are a pretty physical team,” Schmid said regarding Chicago.  “C.J. Brown is a pretty physical player. There were a lot of knocks, bumps and bruises. There's a lot of guys that are pretty bruised in there, but that's just part of the game when you play them."

Speaking of bruises, Ljungberg limped noticeably walking into the post-game news conference.  We waived it off in the manner of a determined veteran as nothing more than part of the game.  “It will be gone in the next day or two,” he said.

As for the yellow card he secured and that which Montero picked up against him,  Ljungberg denied that there was any “message” being communicated.  The results just constituted tough and determined soccer.   

On the subject of returning to Seattle to face his former teammates, Ljungberg delivered an emotional message:

"Of course it's special to come back, you know. I have a special relationship with people in this city and I thought the fans were just amazing. Of course I was booed in the game, and before and after the game they were cheering so I can understand that totally, and it was a nice reception.

“About the game, of course we're devastated, we lost the game due to marking. There were misses , and they scored two goals, which we're extremely upset about in the locker room. But that can't happen, especially when we play so well for 90 minutes and concede in the last second, the 90th and some extra minutes.

“We felt we played well. We kept the ball more than Seattle. They're kind of a more straight forward, long ball system and hoping for the second ball so we kind of felt we could control it if we kept the ball which we did some moments in the second half which we were happy with. That's why it's hard, it's devastating to concede on a long ball and marking we were missing in the box."

As a determined veteran Ljungberg remains focused on finding a way to help his new team make the playoffs.  This was evident in his remarks about adjusting to a new playing environment and what the future holds.

"Normally it takes a while but my new team has been absolutely great and they want to play in a certain way and Carlos (de los Cobos, Fire coach) is very adamant about the way he wants to play, and keep the ball on the floor,” Ljungberg explained.  “And that's an easy system for me to play, that's how I want to play so I've gotten into it quite well. I've had a great record and played some great football … “(T)oday we conceded three crosses or long balls and so at the moment we need to go back and concentrate on marking and I think we'll get even more wins."

Chicago coach Carlos de los Cobos summarized his overall impression of the match afterward.

"I think our team played good,” the coach concluded.  “It was a very good game, Both teams played really good football. It was a shame, with what is happening with the last couple of matches, us losing in the final few minutes. Part of the time of maturing of some players, the young players they are learning. This situation is normal."

Sounders FC  now stands at 9-8-5 with 32 points and is fourth in the MLS Western Conference.  It has won its last four home matches.  The Chicago Fire in losing drop to 6-7-6.  It has 24 points.  This is its second straight loss.  Chicago is fourth in the East.

The Sounders conclude their current home stand on Wednesday with a U.S. Open Cup semifinal at Starfire Sports Stadium in Tukwila, Washington against Chivas USA. First kick is 7:30 p.m. PT.

After that it is back to MLS play as Seattle travels to New England to play the Revolution on September 4 at 4:30 p.m. PT.

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Holy Daughters of El Kabong, I have to wonder if I am seeing a broken record unfold before my very weary eyes at Victoria Street these past several weeks.

It's a broken record of wasted set pieces, wasted corners, and wasted deliveries inside the six yard box.

It's a broken record of botched marking and blown assignments, a gluttony of space surrendered to the opposition, and a back line that even the best of English non-League teams could run rings around.

It's a broken record of sloppy execution, decrepit pace, and poor passing to go with finishing that deserves its share of howlers and hisses.

It's a broken record of dysfunctional play that only Bruce Arena's Los Angeles Galaxy could deliver. Two months of this broken record that I speak of has culminated with their latest setback—a 2-0 shutout loss to Peter Vermes's Kansas City Wizards.

For someone who has been following this team since we first started this season, I am wiping my hard-earned frames and making this declaration: the wheels are still off, and the Galaxy are searching in vain for them.

For some odd reason unfamiliar to me—maybe it's just divine intervention or just the fact that these teams shot blanks on Saturday—the Galaxy still have the best record in Major League Soccer.

I don't know what has gone wrong for this side. Bruce Arena continues to make up excuses, excuses, and more excuses for the lack of production from everyone on the Galaxy side.

Here's something that I have been chewing on the past few days like Trident: I have been pondering the possibility of the Galaxy using the 4-5-1 formation instead. It's a definite shakeup from the 4-4-2 diamond formation preferred by Arena, but it's a system that my good friends from the BigSoccer forums have been touting. So, dearest Bruce, you might want to consider going with a 4-5-1 for the rest of the year and see where this leads you.

Something needs to change from the Galaxy team—and fast. They need to get some new wheels, some new motivation, anything to give them a jump start. On Saturday, this Los Angeles team had none of those, and you can't win without fuel for your fire.

And speaking of fire, LA travels to Toyota Park in Bridgeview next week to take of the Chicago Fire in the penultimate road outing.

Make you wonder if they will find their wheels by then. Will they? Stay tuned...

Chicken Thief No. 7: Davy Arnaud

Our next heister of the fowl with foul intentions is the Wizards' captain, who received a pass from Kei Kamara on the transition to earn his third of the year in the 12th minute.

Nothing fancy, just proof that the Los Angeles Galaxy backline is THAT bad. Now I have been following non-League football in England for some time, and I actually think that with the way the Galaxy's backline is performing...even the likes of AFC Wimbledon could shred this team. It's just inexcusable to give up goals in that fashion.

But to Davy Crockett's defense, you have to say...Very. Well. Played.


A Salute to the Youth Academy

The Los Angeles Galaxy Youth Academy Under-20 side were honored at halftime for their runner-up finish in the USL Super-20 League to the Columbus Crew (who, ironically, the Galaxy will face in two weeks' time at the Home Depot Center on the ninth anniversary of the Twin Towers crumbling down).

You wonder if the first team might have wanted to use the services of some of the best players from that side on Saturday night.

The Galaxy Youth Under-16 and Under-18 sides begin their 2010-11 season in October. Stay tuned to Bleacher Report and the View from Victoria Street for all the updates on the Journeys to Be of the Young G's.


A New Galaxy Tradition?

An interesting selection of music was played after Saturday's 2-0 defeat to Kansas City. "All The Right Moves" by OneRepublic is a song foreboding certain doom and failure. It was played just before the PA system shut down for the night.

Hey Galaxy FO, can you make it a tradition to play this song after every defeat before you turn off the PA? It would give all the fans enough closure before they make the long drive home.

Just a suggestion...

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Harrison, NJ - Playing his best game of the season, Dane Richards orchestrated the New York Red Bulls to a 2-0 win over the San Jose Earthquakes. In the 46th minute of the first half, Richards scored a spectacular goal as he broke down San Jose's defense and beat their goalkeeper Jon Busch for the score.

In the second half, Richards continued to play marvelously when he crossed to Thierry Henry for the second goal of the game in the 63rd minute. For Henry, this was his first MLS goal and the 21,859 fans in attendance acknowledged it with their boisterous cheer of approval. 

In response, Henry pointed over to the Empire Supporters Club to thank them and the home crowd for their continual support. Since joining the Red Bulls, Henry had struggled to find the net but it wasn't for his lack of effort. Like any great player, he constantly attacked the net until he finally connected.

With Henry scoing tonight, Red Bull opponents have to worry about the offensive threat of Juan Pablo Angel, Rafa Marquez, Thierry Henry, Macoumba Kandji and the "surging spark plug" Dane Richards.

In a game where the Red Bulls were never in trouble, they pressured San Jose by taking 17 shots, including 10 shots on goal. Along with their shots, the Red Bulls took six corner kicks.

Defensively, the combination of Tim Ream, Carlos Mendes, Roy Miller, and Chris Albright assisted goalkeeper Bouna Coundoul who only had to make two saves against San Jose. Playing his 21st game of the season, Bouna has a 10-7-4 record while allowing 1.15 goals a game and recording eight shutouts.

Since losing to the Los Angeles Galaxy 1-0, the Red Bulls have outscored their last two opponents 6-1 while dominating both sides of the pitch. With the win the 11-7-4 Red Bulls concluded the month of August with a respectable record of 3-1-1 and are now four points behind first place Columbus Crew.

With eight games left in the MLS season, the Red Bulls have become one of the most popular teams in Major League Soccer. Since the signings of Thierry Henry and Rafa Marquez the Red Bulls have averaged 22,435 fans at home and on the road.

Next up for the Red Bulls are the defending MLS Champions, Real Salt Lake. Playing at Rio Tinto Stadium on September 4, 2010, the Red Bulls will have another opportunity to register their 12th win of the season.

Cesar Diaz covers Soccer for Latino Sports. Please send him your questions and e-mails to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

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T-180 minutes to kickoff: After a scoreless draw several weeks ago at CommunityAmerica Ballpark, Bruce Arena's Los Angeles Galaxy and Peter Vermes' Kansas City Wizards are ready to clash here at the Home Depot Center.

T-150: It was a miserable outing for Major League Soccer at the CONCACAF Champions League. Arabe Unido of Panama shut out Toronto FC 1-0, Santos Laguna defeated Columbus Crew 1-0, a goal festival forged by a boggy pitch and poor goalkeeping saw Cruz Azul top Real Salt Lake 5-4, and at Qwest Field, the Seattle Sounders were shooting blanks against Monterrey 2-0.

Is it just me, or are we really that bad? The Galaxy were the last team to have ever won the CONCACAF Champions League (back then it was called the CONCACAF Champions Cup) in 2000, and by the looks of things, it's set to stay that way, I'm afraid...

T-120: Time for the lineups.

LOS ANGELES GALAXY

Manager: Bruce Arena

Formation: 4-4-2 Diamond

Colors: White tops with blue and gold accents, white shorts, white socks

1 Donovan Ricketts

28 Sean Franklin ---- 4 Omar Gonzalez ---- 22 Leonardo ---- 2 Todd Dunivant

11 Chris Birchall

10 Landon Donovan (C) ---- 26 Michael Stephens

7 Chris Klein

14 Edson Buddle ---- 18 Mike Magee

Substitutes:

12 Josh Saunders GK

20 A.J. DeLaGarza DEF

88 Alex Cazumba MID

21 Dema Kovalenko MID

6 Eddie Lewis MID

17 Tristan Bowen FWD

9 Jovan Kirovski FWD

KANSAS CITY WIZARDS

Manager: Peter Vermes

Formation: 4-4-2

Colors: Light blue tops, light blue shorts, light blue socks

1 Jimmy Nielsen

2 Michael Harrington ---- 6 Shavar Thomas ---- 12 Jimmy Conrad---- 17 Roger Espinoza

23 Kei Kamara ---- 4 Craig Rocastle ---- 8 Stephane Auvray ---- 22 Davy Arnaud (C)

11 Ryan Smith ---- 27 Birahim Diop

Substitutes:

18 Eric Kronberg GK

3 Korede Aiyegbusi DEF

25 Jonathan Leathers DEF

7 Chance Myers DEF

14 Jack Jewsbury MID

28 Graham Zusi MID

9 Teal Bunbury FWD

T-90: Los Angeles's next three games include a Sept. 4 road trip to Toyota Park in Bridgeview, Ill., to face the Chicago Fire, a Sept. 11 home tie with the Columbus Crew, and a Sept. 18 home showdown with D.C. United at the Home Depot Center.

As for Kansas City, the Wizards' next three home games include a Sept. 4 road trip to PPL Park in Chester, Pa., to take on the Philadelphia Union, a Sept. 11 home tie at CommunityAmerica Ballpark in Kansas City, Kan., to face the Houston Dynamo and a return trip to the Home Depot Center on Sept. 19 to take on Chivas USA.

T-60: An hour to go as the grounds crew lubricate the lawn. Other games going on today include Columbus vs. FC Dallas, Toronto vs. Real Salt Lake, New England Revolution vs. Philadelphia Union, New York Red Bulls vs. San Jose Earthquakes, Colorado Rapids vs. Houston Dynamo, and Seattle Sounders vs. Chicago Fire. Tomorrow at the HDC, Chivas USA vs. DC United will clash.

T-45: And both teams take the pitch for warm-ups.

Final scores: Columbus finished in a scoreless draw with FC Dallas, Toronto FC also held RSL to a scoreless draw, Philadelphia defeated New England late in stoppage time 2-1 and New York shut out San Jose 2-0.

T-30: Due to personal matters, Juninho will not be in the starting lineup today due to commitments in Sao Paulo.

T-15: Yader Reyes is our match official today. Linesmen are Fabio Tovar and Frank Anderson. Our fourth official today is Ricardo Salazar.

T-0: National anthem by California High School Marching Band of Whittier, Calif. All right, it looks like we're set to begin. Let's see if the Galaxy can get their late-season mojo going.

FIRST HALF START: 7:36 P.M. PT


1' - We are underway! Todd Dunivant with the throw-in. First foul to KC. Donovan Ricketts, the big cat from Montego Bay, starting the next sequence.

2' - Here comes KC.  The Wizards will need to compact defensively and attack on the flanks. Sturdy defense and improved transition will help Los Angeles tonight. The backline has been very porous, and Kamara almost capitalized.

3' - This is excellent possession from the Wizards. Here is a free kick for Vermes's club.

4' - Talk about a scramble in the box. Well done from Chris Klein. On the transition go the G's. Pass for Birchall misses.

5' - Well marked. Back come the Wizards. Leonardo walks a fine line on the back line.

6' - Leonardo with another rash challenge. Free kick to the Wiz. The Wiz was the former name of the team before their current moniker. It remains one of the nicknames.

7' - Not sure where Chris Birchall was passing that one.

8' - Leave it to Ricketts to set up the next sequence. Ugh, and the passing inside the box leaves much to be desired.

9' - Corner for the Galaxy. Here's Landon Donovan with the set piece. Too short. Here is Dunivant with another throw. The percussion of Cal High on display.

10' - Too long a pass for Sean Franklin.

11' - Stephane Auvray starts the next sequence for the Wiz, and there goes the next sequence for the Wiz. Long ball forward, and that was another breakdown in the back line that leaves much to be desired.

Goal kick, Ricketts. They're just asking to be exposed, the G's are.

12' - Dunivant should have done better...here comes KC.

GOAL! Kansas City Wizards 22 Davy Arnaud Assist 23 Kei Kamara

Hah! I told you they were asking to be exposed. No excuse for Dunivant to miss his marker. Arnaud is the Chicken Thief tonight. Kamara is the Thief's accomplice. Very well played.

15' - Corner for the Galaxy. Birahim Diop clears. Take two. And again, they are shooting themselves in the foot with the lack in form.

16' - Seriously, am I seeing a broken record here with the poor form by this Galaxy back line?

17' - Here's Kei Kamara, the Sierra Leone international.

18' - Not a fan of the passing by this Galaxy side. Here's a throw-in for Dunivant.

19' - More shoddy passing. Communicate, Michael Stephens!

20' - Diop is shaken up on the challenge from Leonardo. He is up, though. Not sure what Jimmy Nielsen was doing. It's going to be a corner.

21' - Terrible corner. The horror stretch of this Galaxy side continues.

22' - Here is Leonardo. Good challenge, but the ball will go to the Wiz on the throw.

24' - The G's are letting KC hold on to the ball too long. Good mark by Michael Harrington on Michael Stephens. A battle of the Michaels.

25' - Bloody oath, this passing is lousy as you loathe. Here's Kamara, and that shot will roll out for a goal kick.

26' - Edson Buddle is jammed, and it will be a free kick to the G's just outside the box.

27' - I just don't get Landon's loss of mojo tonight. That is easily cleared.

28' - Offsides, Los Angeles. 28 minutes into the match, and the Galaxy are still searching for their wheels, trailing the Wizards 1-0.

29' - Goal kick to Jimmy Nielsen, and the Angel City Brigade expresses its disgust. Another one from the Danish international.

31' - Landon Donovan tries to do something here. KC hasn't won here since 2004. Give them another hour and that streak will be gone.

33' - LA is still looking for someone in the front to pass the ball to. Well-organized defending from the Wizards. Here's a corner.

34' - Too low a corner. You can't explain this ineptitude with set pieces, you just can't.

35' - Good marking from the KC defense.

36' - Sliding clearance from Ricketts.

37' - I have nothing but rave reviews on the pace of this Wizards side. Goal kick, Big Cat from Montego Bay, on the Kamara handball.

38' - ACB sways from to side as the Wizards give different looks.

39' - Ryan Smith with some pace. Here's a goal kick for Donovan Ricketts. Speculative shot from Birchall. As expected for a midfielder playing on rusted wheels.

40' - We are now 40 minutes in, and it is 1-0 KC. A familiar scenario.

41' - Free kick for Kansas City.

42' - Back come the Galaxy. Arnaud with the mark on Stephens.

43' - Cannot believe the lack of communication from this club. Magee's finishing again showing its lack of form.

44' - Some chippiness as we approach halftime. Unoriginal look on the transition from LA.

45' - This is Birahim Diop with the next sequence of passing. Couldn't connect with Kamara.

Let's see how many minutes of stoppage time. None. The first half ends. And the adage, "Here we go again..." comes into play here.

HALFTIME

Los Angeles Galaxy 0

Kansas City Wizards 1

Davy Arnaud 12'

Halftime Stats

Shots
Kansas City Wizards 3
Los Angeles Galaxy 4


Shots on Goal
Kansas City Wizards 1
Los Angeles Galaxy 0


Saves
Kansas City Wizards 0
Los Angeles Galaxy 0


Fouls
Kansas City Wizards 9
Los Angeles Galaxy 5


Corner Kicks
Kansas City Wizards 0
Los Angeles Galaxy 6


Offsides
Kansas City Wizards 2
Los Angeles Galaxy 1

SECOND HALF START: 8:36 P.M. PT

46' - The second half begins. Let's see if any adjustments are made for Los Angeles. The LA Galaxy Academy's Under-20's were honored at halftime. Perhaps Arena could use some of these people right about now...

47' - There's a foul on Roger Espinoza. Too short a free kick from Donovan. Ambitious volley from Edson Buddle. Goal kick, Nielsen.

48' - Too strong for Ryan Smith.

49' - Not sure where Omar Gonzalez was throwing that one to.

50' - Nielsen with his best save of the game. Unimaginative look from Birchall.

51' - Arnaud is a bit shaken up. The home fans won't buy it, and the boo birds rain down on the Nielsen goal kick.

52' - Another great save from Nielsen. And Arnaud is feeling the pinch. His jaw took a shot.

53' - Oh, if only Juninho didn't have his issues this week...Goal kick Ricketts.

54' - Bad pass. Auvray taking advantage. This Wizards side has done a good job neutralizing Edson Buddle tonight. Kudos. Offsides, Kamara.

55' - Offsides, Landon Donovan. So far, Los Angeles is in a rut right now.

56' - Back come the G's.

57' - No foul on that Buddle tackle. Jimmy Conrad gets a reprieve. Mike Magee is a stooge right now for giving that ball up to KC.

58' - My inner football manager says, "Bring in Bowen."

59' - Another save for Nielsen. When will this team, specifically one Chris Birchall, learn to be more creative with their shot selection?

60' - Ambitious shot from Diop.

61' - Great attempt from Diop. And Ricketts with the save. Here is a corner for KC.

62' - Initial clearance. But I wonder if Omar Gonzalez is not pulling his weight?

Substitution Los Angeles Galaxy
IN 17 Tristan Bowen
OUT 7 Chris Klein

64' - Heads-up clearance from Jim Nielsen. Corner for the G's. Too long. I must be seeing a broken record with the poor finishing.

65' - This is predictable, direct football from Los Angeles. It's the reason, this team's wheels are off.

67' - Kansas City Wizards
IN 14 Jack Jewsbury
OUT 4 Craig Rocastle

We are now 67 minutes into the match, and it is still 1-0 Kansas City. Though to be honest, it should have been more.

68' - Tristan Bowen will need to do better with his marking.

69' - Chris Birchall shows his frustration...and there's the card.

Yellow card 11 Chris Birchall
Los Angeles Galaxy

70' - Ryan Smith is shaken up on the field. A sigh from yours truly is exhaled. Free kick, KC.

GOAL! Kansas City Wizards 12 Jimmy Conrad

I don't know about you, but this Galaxy side's season is continuing to go south. You can expect another rant later tonight. Ay, ay, ay.

71' - And why is Bruce Arena still running a 4-4-2? Can't this embattled manager run a 4-5-1, as the people on BigSoccer have suggested?

73' - 73 minutes in, and it's 2-0 KC. THis will be a corner to the Galaxy.

Substitution Los Angeles Galaxy
IN 88 Alex Cazumba
OUT 18 Mike Magee

74' - We have been inconsistent for two straight months now. Not good...

75' - The connection on the Donovan corner is not there.

76' - Here is another free kick. And a foul in the box. Leonardo with the challenge again. 20,112 in attendance tonight.

77' - Substitution Los Angeles Galaxy
IN 9 Jovan Kirovski
OUT 11 Chris Birchall

78' - Horrid pass to Bowen. He takes it all in stride and hands it to Roger Espinoza for a throw-in.

79' - Oh, Alex Cazumba, what happened to your cleats!

81' - Substitution Kansas City Wizards
IN 9 Teal Bunbury
OUT 20 Kei Kamara

Here comes Teal...

The fans have seen enough and head for the exits.

82' - Well, we're still at the top of the table...but only because Columbus and Real Salt Lake took one point on the weekend.

83' - That free kick from Davy Arnaud goes wide right for a Ricketts goal kick.

84' - The Wizards are still going to be on the outside looking in, but they will get motivations in whatever ways possible.

85' - Kansas City's defense holds once again, goal kick to Jim Nielsen.

86' - The road trip to Chicago will hold that much importance for Galaxy. They will need this more than ever now.

87' - Arnaud with the challenge on Buddle.

Substitution Kansas City Wizards
IN 28 Graham Zusi
OUT 11 Ryan Smith

88' - The touch from this side is atrocious.

89' - Let's see what Mr. Ricardo Salazar (who shares the same last name as me) does with the stoppage time.

90' - Set piece for Los Angeles is squandered.

Four minutes, says Mr. Salazar to Mr. Salazar and the others in the box. Got it, chief.

90' + 2' - Alex Cazumba couldn't hold on to that one.

90' + 3' - And that shot is just an example of the mess that is the past two months.

Yellow card 1 Jimmy Nielsen
Kansas City Wizards

Damn time waster. Consolation, that, in what has been another forgettable outing for the embattled Los Angeles Galaxy.

90' + 4' - That is a wrap.

FINAL

LOS ANGELES GALAXY 0

KANSAS CITY WIZARDS 2

Davy Arnaud 12'

Jimmy Conrad 70'

It been a lousy past couple of months for this Galaxy side; will there be more on the way?

Stay tuned for my take on this match on the View from Victoria Street and on Bleacher Report.

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Bob Bradley has recently expressed interest in becoming the manager of Aston Villa, but why would owner Randy Lerner be interested in hiring him?  

Throughout his career, Bradley has taken over traditionally underachieving teams and put them on track to be successful.  But is this the type of manager a storied team like Villa is looking for?

Chicago Fire  

In 1998, Bradley began his first head managerial position of a professional team coaching the MLS Chicago Fire.  In his first season he led the expansion team to a double, winning both the MLS and US Open Cups.

Bradley nearly repeated this feat in 2000, when the Fire won another US Open Cup and were runner ups in the MLS Cup.  Bradley's best finish in the CONCACAF Champions League with the Fire was third place.  Bradley's resigned in 2002 after compiling 82 wins, 54 losses, and 15 ties in the regular season.

New York Metrostars

In 2003, Bradley took over the then New York Metrostars and led the team to the US Open Cup final in his first season.  The following season, his last full one with the team, the Metrostars reached the Round of 16 in the MLS Cup.  He was fired with three games remaining in the 2005 campaign, having failed to qualify for the CONCACAF Champions League all three seasons.

Chivas USA

Bradley took over a Chivas USA team entering its second year of existence in 2006. Chivas finished with a record of 4-22-6 the previous season, with a -36 goal differential. In his lone season with the club, Bradley led them to the quarterfinals of the MLS Cup.  He finished with a regular season record of 10-9-13.

Team USA

True to his past form, Bradley led a Team USA that had underachieved at the 2006 FIFA World Cup to a 2007 CONCACAF Gold Cup Championship in his first season.  That same summer he led a depleted Team USA to three losses and no points at the Copa America tournament.  

In 2009, the Americans finished second at the FIFA Confederations Cup.  The tournament included a historic upset of No. 1-ranked Spain.  Team USA went up 2-0 early in the first half of the final, before Brazil scored three consecutive goals to seal the victory.

After being dominate in World Cup qualifying, Team USA came out flat in nearly every game of the tournament.  They surrendered goals before the 15-minute mark in three of their four games.  The hallmark of the team became their determination to fight back after falling behind early.  Bradley was hailed throughout as a master motivator.  In the end, the tendency to not be focused early cost them in the Round of 16.  Ghana scored just five minutes into the game, and then just three minutes into the overtime period.

Aston Villa

The Villains have been playing top-flight football for 100 years.  They have never been relegated and have the fifth best all-time record in the Premier League.  While they currently sit near the bottom of the table and have been eliminated from the Europa League, this is not a traditionally underachieving squad.  

They have finished sixth in the league each of the last three seasons.  Sixth is the best finish that can be expected for this team, as they cannot hope to keep up with the spending of the Big Four and now Manchester City.

Bob Bradley has never inherited a position where he had quality pieces already in place, along with a tradition of winning.  Villa has an excellent roster with players like Steve Sidwell, Ashley Young, Gabriel Agbonlahor, Stewart Downing, and new acquisition Stephen Ireland. Would Bradley consistently win or would he crumble under the new pressure?

Aston Villa is not looking for a rebuilder like the role Bradley generally fills, but instead someone to build upon Martin O'Neill's success.  At Villa he would face the most intense pressure he has ever felt to win and patience is not a characteristic that Premier League owners traditionally have much of.  

He will have to have the team more focused than Team USA in the World Cup, or Villa will suffer a similar fate as the Americans.  All of this is not to say that Bradley would not be successfully with the Villains, but it would be a role he has not filled before.  

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Players of Seattle Sounders FC and the visiting Chicago Fire are well aware that the MLS playoffs are beckoning ever more closely and that Saturday night’s matchup is crucial to their post-season prospects.

The match’s potential playoff significance is sufficient reason to build interest in the Emerald City for the confrontation. However, another element emerges as well. 

Seattle’s two time All-star, the charismatic Swede Freddie Ljungberg, an international star who is one of the most popular players ever to play for Arsenal in the English Premier League, is making his first appearance in the city since he was recently traded.

Seattle Coach Sigi Schmid earlier this week recognized the significance of Ljungberg’s team involvement by asserting that obtaining the internationally known star was a major factor in building a successful franchise. 

Ljungberg was one of two leading international names initially on the Sounders, the other being former U.S. national team player Kasey Keller.

Seattle Sounders FC aim to reestablish its midseason momentum in the second of three home matches over an eight-day span of great significance in separate competitions when it resumes MLS play against Chicago on Saturday at 7:30 p.m.

Chicago stands at 6-6-6 with 24 points.

Still without points in the group stage of the CONCACAF Champions League, the Rave Green was defeated 2-0 by Mexico's CF Monterrey on Wednesday. Seattle is now 10-10-7 in overall competition, and fifth in the Western Conference at 8-8-5 with 29 points.

Despite losing to Monterrey and previously to Marathon of Honduras, the Sounders acquitted themselves by performing competitively.  While losing 2-0 on Wednesday, the Sounders had more shots than the visitors with many close to goal opportunities, with one Nate Jaqua netter at the 90 minute mark being called back on a controversial offside call.

Seattle was victimized by another controversial call with a penalty called against defender Tyrone Marshall in a close 2-1 loss against Marathon.

Now Seattle moves back into league competition with the recognition that it needs to take advantage of all the prospective three point opportunities it can muster within the advantageous Xbox pitch of Qwest Field, and the solid and supportive fan base it affords.

The home stand concludes on September 1st with a U.S. Open Cup semifinal at Starfire Sports Stadium in Tukwila, Wash., against Chivas USA. First kick is 7:30 p.m.

Chicago's three-game unbeaten streak ended with a 4-3 loss at Houston last week. The first two meetings with Sounders FC ended in draws, with three ejections and just two goals. The sides meet again on September 25 at Toyota Park.

Saturday's game will be the 28th consecutive sellout for a league match. Seattle has won its last three matches played at Qwest, including a Champions League preliminary round game. Sounders FC is returning to its league schedule following a bye week and a 0-0 draw at Chivas

Seattle travels to New England to play the Revolution on September 4 at 4:30 p.m. PT. Champions League play resumes September 14 against Saprissa in San Jose, Costa Rica.

Following the Sounders’ Friday workout at its Tukwila training facility Sigi Schmid evaluated the Chicago Fire:

“Obviously they are a team who has got some games in hand so they are chasing points but because they have games in hand they can get points. There are a lot of good players on the team. [Baggio] Husidic has had a good year so far. Certainly Marco Pappa is a dangerous player because he is a left-footed guy who likes to play on the right and come inside at times.

“Calen Carr has certainly come off his injury and is very dangerous and very effective. Patrick Nyarko, before he was injured, was another player who is very dangerous and effective. So they have a lot of speed with Carr, Nyarko and Pappa has got decent speed. So there is a lot of danger there.”

Schmid had a comment about Ljungberg’s appearance Saturday night against his former teammates:

“His return certainly adds something to the game.  Freddie is going to want to play very well and do well in this particular game and our guys are going to want to play well against him. It’s not something that we are going to spend a long time talking about but it’s something that is ever present, that’s there in your mind and that the guys know and that Freddie knows.

“I think it’s going to spur both sides onto a performance. The Chicago team is going to want to do well because Freddie is their teammate now so they want to support him in that way. And our team wants to do well and say, ‘Hey, we are still a viable team.’”

The Seattle coach also tackled the subject of team injuries:

“(Steve) Zakuani will be in the 18 (man player roster Saturday). So he’s doing better, seems to be getting over the injury that he had. Obviously Leo [Gonzalez] is out with the card. [Brad] Evans is actually starting to feel a little bit better. We are nowhere close to being able to start training him but at least there is some forward progress, which is nice. [Pat] Noonan, [Peter] Vagenas and [Jhon Kennedy] Hurtado are out. Vagenas is starting to make some progress and getting better.”

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